US Coast Guard USCGC Stone cutter departs for first operational deployment.

According to information published by the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the crew of the new U.S. Coast Guard USCGC Stone (WMSL 758) cutter departed from Pascagoula, Mississippi to conducts its first multi-month deployment to the South Atlantic countering illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing while strengthening relationships for maritime sovereignty and security throughout the region.
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First operational deployment for the U.S. Coast Guard USCGC Stone (WMSL 758) cutter. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The brand new Legend-class national security cutter, one of the U.S. Coast Guard’s flagships, will provide a presence and support national security objectives throughout the Atlantic. This patrol is the cutter’s initial shakedown cruise following its delivery in November.

This the service’s first patrol to South America in recent memory, engaging partners including Guyana, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Portugal. The cutter also embarked an observer from the Portuguese navy for the operation’s duration.

Operation Southern Cross is conducted in conjunction with U.S. Southern Command, charged with managing operations in Central and South America by working collaboratively to ensure the Western Hemisphere is secure, free, and prosperous.

In September 2020, the Coast Guard released the Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported Fishing Strategic Outlook, which reaffirms our commitment to global maritime security, regional stability, and economic prosperity.

In November 2020, Navy Recognition has published news to announce the delivery of the new National Security Cutter Stone (WMSL 758) to the U.S. Coast Guard. 

The USCGC Stone (WMSL 758) has a length of 127 m, a beam of 16 m, and a draft of 6.9m. The ship has a Combined Diesel and (CODAG) propulsion system consisting of two 7,400 kW (9,900 hp) MTU 20V 1163 diesel engines and one 22 MW (30,000 hp) LM2500 gas turbine engine. She can reach a top speed of 28 knots/32 mph/52 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 12,000 NM/13,809 miles/22,224 km. The ship has an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 120 sailors.

The USCGC Stone (WMSL 758) is armed with one MK 110 57mm gun a variant of the Bofors 57 mm gun and Gunfire Control System, one 20 mm Block 1B Baseline 2 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, four crew-served .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns and two crew-served M240B 7.62 mm machine guns.